To the Editor:Fifty-six sixth, seventh, and eighth grade Bayonne students participated in the annual spelling bee sponsored by the Concerned Citizens of Bayonne on Nov. 26 at the C.W.V. Post 1612.

Congratulations to all of the participants, who performed admirably, and to their parents, teachers, and schools. Special congratulations to Othman Aljid, eighth grade student at Horace Mann School, for first place; Karolen Eid, eighth grade student at Midtown Community School, for second place; and Nathan Gonzalez, seventh grade student at Midtown Community School, for third place.

The Concerned Citizens would also like to extend a great big thank-you to all those who helped make the spelling bee possible: Superintendent of Schools Dr. Patricia McGeehan for distributing the notices among the public schools; the principal and teachers of All Saints Catholic Academy and all of the Bayonne public schools for the wonderful job they do and for encouraging students to take part in the spelling bee; the members of the C.W.V. Post 1612 for the use of the hall and all of their help; the judges Charlene Bini (enunciator) and Susan Barbieri for a job well done; Al McCormick for the use of the spelling bee materials; and last but certainly not least, Jean Perrucci, who organized the bee on behalf of the Concerned Citizens of Bayonne.

The Concerned Citizens of Bayonne are proud and happy to do whatever we can to encourage Bayonne’s youth. They are Bayonne’s future!